BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON/ DUBAI (14th December 2022) – Following a meeting of the World Plastics Council’s (WPC) Executive Committee, Mr. Benny Mermans of Chevron Phillips Chemical has been unanimously elected to succeed Mr. James (Jim) Seward of LyondellBasell as the next Chairman of the WPC, as of 1st January 2023.
Jim Seward, Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer of LyondellBasell, said:
“It has been a privilege to be Chairman of the WPC during such an important time for the industry, and I would like to thank the WPC and my industry colleagues for the excellent support they have provided. I am delighted to hand over the reins to Benny Mermans. He brings a deep understanding and passion for the industry and sustainability, along with a global perspective which will be invaluable to building on the momentum we have set in place.“
Following his election, Benny Mermans, Vice President Sustainability Chevron Phillips Chemical, said:
“I would like to express the gratitude of everyone involved with the WPC for Jim’s commitment and leadership. He has been instrumental in driving forward its agenda in several key areas, including the Global Plastic Treaty negotiations and further broadening its membership with Asian and Gulf members.”
Mermans added:
“The plastics industry is facing an exciting but challenging transformation which requires a concerted effort by all stakeholders. Therefore, as Chair of the WPC, my ambition is to leverage the unique position of the WPC which provides a much-needed global forum for plastics industry engagement to work and work even more closely with policymakers, civil society, and members of the plastics value chain.”
The WPC was founded in 2014 with the goal of becoming the plastics industry’s platform to accelerate cooperation and alignment, and to deliver improved outcomes for the benefit of society and the global plastics industry.